P. Parker
Allen Oxlade (6)
Knox Show Early Potential
After a dismal 2018, Knox have kicked off the 2019 season with a strong showing against Oakhill.
A warm, sunny afternoon saw the 16A's head out on to a wet Hermann Oval. An arm-wrestle ensued, with both teams staunch in defence and creative in attack. As the tight game was drawing to a thrilling close, the referee started struggling to control the raging testosterone on both sides. A case of "Handbags at Five Metres" five minutes before the siren saw a Knox player yellow carded for "Holding the ball at the penalty", and thus starting the melee. It made no difference to the final result, with Knox winning 10-8.
The 3rd's followed, with Knox fielding a predominantly Year 11 team. Both sides were willing, however the Knox set piece kept pressure on Oakhill all afternoon. That, combined with aggressive defence and strong running from Longhi (6) saw Knox just too good with a 20-10 victory.
The 2nd's then ran out on to a perfectly prepared Damien Oval. Knox were immediately on the attack, with Muskens (9) and Asher (10) controlling traffic in the halves, and Korthout (12) smashing his way through the mid-field defence. Knox again dominated at the set piece, winning both scrums and lineouts against the feed all afternoon. Oakhill were gallant in defence, however with less than 30% possession, it was all one-way traffic. Knox the winners 44-0.
Knox 2nd's are an interesting team this year, with two-thirds of them backing up from last years' 3rd's (placed 3rd in CAS 2018), and the remainder from the 2018 highly rated 16A's. They appear to be a cohesive unit, backing each other, and never giving up. In fact, 5 minutes from full time, with the game wrapped up, Knox could have been forgiven for letting in a try in the corner after Oakhill made a break down the middle, popped a pass from the ground to a flying number 11 who was in for all money. Except Nicholl (14) came from nowhere to stop him on the line, and Asher (10) arrived on the scene to help bundle the player into touch in goal. This is a Knox team with a bit of belief and commitment, who may even trouble the highly rated Barker and Waverley 2nd's this year.
Then it was time for the 1st's. Knox look to have used the off-season to build size and skills. Backing up in the 1st's from 2018 this year are Hughs (5), Gratwicke (6), Breden (7), T. Constable (9), Addis (14), Cheal (8), Fitzgerald (10), Kablau (3) and Grobler (2), with S. Rechner (12) and Griffiths (15) returning from last years early season injuries. In fact, of the 18 1st's players named, 16 are currently in Year 12, with all having played together for many years.
This cohesion showed, with Knox scoring from the kickoff, running the ball from their 22 with Rechner (12) and Evans (11) teaming up to outpace the Oakhill backs. The second kickoff had a similar result, and with Fitzgerald (10) slotting conversions from the sideline Knox were up 14-0 in under 3 minutes.
An utterly dominant scrum, and a lineout winning 50% of the opposition ball meant that Knox had more than 80% possession. With Hughs (5) and Grobler (2) making meters up the middle and Evans (11) and Griffiths (15) carving up the backs, Oakhill had a very tough first half, finding themselves down 55-0 at the break.
However, they never gave up, and with a 30km/h breeze at their backs, Oakhill put in a mighty effort in the second half. Knox though, were just too good, running out eventual winners 74-0.
Knox would have been disappointed with their loss of structure in the 2nd half, with too many passes going to ground. However, their rock solid defence and speed in the backs must give the coaches some hope for an improved year after the disappointments of 2018.
Injury concerns for Knox include T. Constable (9 - shoulder) and S. Rechner (12 - hamstring).
With Barker and Cranbrook having many of last years 1st's returning, and Waverley again being very strong in the backs, 2019 is shaping up to be a cracker of a year for CAS rugby.
After a dismal 2018, Knox have kicked off the 2019 season with a strong showing against Oakhill.
A warm, sunny afternoon saw the 16A's head out on to a wet Hermann Oval. An arm-wrestle ensued, with both teams staunch in defence and creative in attack. As the tight game was drawing to a thrilling close, the referee started struggling to control the raging testosterone on both sides. A case of "Handbags at Five Metres" five minutes before the siren saw a Knox player yellow carded for "Holding the ball at the penalty", and thus starting the melee. It made no difference to the final result, with Knox winning 10-8.
The 3rd's followed, with Knox fielding a predominantly Year 11 team. Both sides were willing, however the Knox set piece kept pressure on Oakhill all afternoon. That, combined with aggressive defence and strong running from Longhi (6) saw Knox just too good with a 20-10 victory.
The 2nd's then ran out on to a perfectly prepared Damien Oval. Knox were immediately on the attack, with Muskens (9) and Asher (10) controlling traffic in the halves, and Korthout (12) smashing his way through the mid-field defence. Knox again dominated at the set piece, winning both scrums and lineouts against the feed all afternoon. Oakhill were gallant in defence, however with less than 30% possession, it was all one-way traffic. Knox the winners 44-0.
Knox 2nd's are an interesting team this year, with two-thirds of them backing up from last years' 3rd's (placed 3rd in CAS 2018), and the remainder from the 2018 highly rated 16A's. They appear to be a cohesive unit, backing each other, and never giving up. In fact, 5 minutes from full time, with the game wrapped up, Knox could have been forgiven for letting in a try in the corner after Oakhill made a break down the middle, popped a pass from the ground to a flying number 11 who was in for all money. Except Nicholl (14) came from nowhere to stop him on the line, and Asher (10) arrived on the scene to help bundle the player into touch in goal. This is a Knox team with a bit of belief and commitment, who may even trouble the highly rated Barker and Waverley 2nd's this year.
Then it was time for the 1st's. Knox look to have used the off-season to build size and skills. Backing up in the 1st's from 2018 this year are Hughs (5), Gratwicke (6), Breden (7), T. Constable (9), Addis (14), Cheal (8), Fitzgerald (10), Kablau (3) and Grobler (2), with S. Rechner (12) and Griffiths (15) returning from last years early season injuries. In fact, of the 18 1st's players named, 16 are currently in Year 12, with all having played together for many years.
This cohesion showed, with Knox scoring from the kickoff, running the ball from their 22 with Rechner (12) and Evans (11) teaming up to outpace the Oakhill backs. The second kickoff had a similar result, and with Fitzgerald (10) slotting conversions from the sideline Knox were up 14-0 in under 3 minutes.
An utterly dominant scrum, and a lineout winning 50% of the opposition ball meant that Knox had more than 80% possession. With Hughs (5) and Grobler (2) making meters up the middle and Evans (11) and Griffiths (15) carving up the backs, Oakhill had a very tough first half, finding themselves down 55-0 at the break.
However, they never gave up, and with a 30km/h breeze at their backs, Oakhill put in a mighty effort in the second half. Knox though, were just too good, running out eventual winners 74-0.
Knox would have been disappointed with their loss of structure in the 2nd half, with too many passes going to ground. However, their rock solid defence and speed in the backs must give the coaches some hope for an improved year after the disappointments of 2018.
Injury concerns for Knox include T. Constable (9 - shoulder) and S. Rechner (12 - hamstring).
With Barker and Cranbrook having many of last years 1st's returning, and Waverley again being very strong in the backs, 2019 is shaping up to be a cracker of a year for CAS rugby.
